Government agency to operate rights center at London Book Fair

The Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA), a government agency under the Culture Ministry, said it will operate a rights center at the 54th London Book Fair, taking place Tuesday to Thursday (local time). The booth will be shared with 10 participating Korean publishers, including Munhakdongne Publishing, Darakwon, iPortfolio and BC Agency. Additionally, the booth will showcase 101 books from 38 Korean publishers that could not participate in person. After the event, the books wi

March 10, 2025

Park Sang-young and Bora Chung to meet with Swedish readers

Two internationally recognized novelists, Park Sang-young and Bora Chung, are to meet with readers in Sweden at Korean Literature Week events organized by the Korean Cultural Center Sweden. On Monday, Park will meet local readers at Kulturhuset, a cultural complex in Stockholm, following a screening of "Love in the Big City," a film adaptation of his book starring Kim Go-eun and Noh Sang-hyun. The event will be moderated by Kim Eun-ah, who translated the book into Swedish. On Wednesday, Chung wi

March 7, 2025

Seoul International Book Fair presses on without state funding

The Korean Publishers Association, which remains at odds with the Culture Ministry over government subsidies for the Seoul International Book Fair, will once again hold the event without direct government funding this year.

March 6, 2025

They weren’t Korean, but they still gave everything for Korea’s independence

Films and drama series set during the Japanese colonial period from 1910 to 1945 often feature people from overseas who join Korea's independence movement. Are these activists for Korea's independence from overseas purely fictional characters, created for dramatic effect, or are they rooted in historical fact?

Feb. 28, 2025

Enduring legacies of survival: Stories set in shadows of colonialism, war

Two novels set in Japanese colonial period In the shadow of Japan's colonial rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945, two compelling literary works, "The Investigation" and "Grass" delve into the profound struggles and resilience of the Korean people. "The Investigation" takes readers inside Fukuoka Prison, intertwining the life of beloved poet Yun Dong-ju with a gripping murder mystery that highlights the transformative power of literature, while "Grass," a powerful graphic novel, tells the harrowing

Feb. 28, 2025

Kim Keum-hee's memoir on plant care secures overseas deal

Novelist Kim Keum-hee's second essay collection, "Diary of a Korean Plant Parent: Four Seasons of Growth," has secured overseas publication deals with a British publisher, Munhakdongne Publishing announced Tuesday. Scribner UK, the British imprint of Simon & Schuster, triumphed in a six-way auction for the book. It is reported that the preemptive advance is a six-figure deal (or nine figures in Korean won). Rights have also been sold to DTV (Germany), Planeta (Spain), Cargo (Netherlands) and Fok

Feb. 26, 2025

Pope Francis’ autobiography to hit Korean shelves in March

Pope Francis’ memoir, the first-ever by a sitting pope, will be published in Korean on March 13. The autobiography “Hope: The Autobiography,” six years in the making, was already published in 18 languages in January. “Hope,” a 524-page compendium exploring the pope’s childhood memories, reflects on the world as seen by the son of Italian immigrants to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It also offers insight into his reform-minded thinking on major political and social issues. His aversion to war is commu

Feb. 26, 2025

Korean mystery thriller 'Plant, Lady' secures global rights deals totaling over 1B won

Kang Min-young's mystery thriller "Plant, Lady" (working title) has secured overseas publication deals, digital content platform company Ridi announced Tuesday. Ridi has inked a deal with Doubleday, an imprint of Penguin Random House, for the UK release, while Berkley, another imprint of Penguin Random House, acquired the rights for the US. The novel has been sold to publishers in nine countries, including France, Italy and Germany, with total contract values exceeding 1 billion won. The interna

Feb. 25, 2025

'White Mulberry' tells fictionalized story of author's grandmother

Rosa Kwon Easton debuts at 60 with coming-of-age historical novel The historical novel “White Mulberry” by Rosa Kwon Easton is a fictionalized story of the author’s grandmother, following a young Korean woman growing up in 1930s Japan, torn between two worlds and identities. Set in Japan-occupied Korea, the novel introduces 11-year-old Miyoung, a girl whose dream of becoming a teacher clashes with the harsh realities of her life. She yearns to leave her tiny farming village near Pyongyang, seeki

Feb. 21, 2025

Picture book capturing childhood through film photography wins BolognaRagazzi Award

'If You Want to Eat a Red Apple' becomes 1st Korean winner of BolognaRagazzi Opera Prima Award South Korean author Jin Joo and photographer Lee Ga-hee’s children's picture book, "If You Want to Eat a Red Apple," from Finger Publishing, has won the Opera Prima at the prestigious BolognaRagazzi Awards, becoming the first Korean author to win in the category. The picture book with images taken with a film camera captures moments of childhood against a backdrop of distinctly Korean elements, such as

Feb. 21, 2025

'If You Want to Eat a Red Apple' becomes 1st Korean winner of BolognaRagazzi Opera Prima Award

The South Korean picture book "If you Want to Eat a Red Apple" has won a prestigious BolognaRagazzi Award for debut works, the award's website showed Friday, making it the first recipient of the highest honor in the category. Written by Jin Joo and illustrated by Lee Ga-hee, the book won in the Opera Prima category, which recognizes debut works by authors and illustrators. Published by Finger Publishing, the picture book is based on photographs taken with a film camera and depicts two children w

Feb. 21, 2025

‘Burning’ director Lee Chang-dong's anthology to hit US shelves Tuesday

'Snowy Day and Other Stories' is Lee's first collection available in English Acclaimed South Korean filmmaker and writer Lee Chang-dong, known recently for "Burning" (2018), will for the first time release an English short story collection in the US on Tuesday. "Snowy Day and Other Stories," a compilation of seven stories translated by Yoosup Chang and Heinz Insu Fenkl, is being published by Penguin Books, according to Korean publisher Moonji Publishing. The anthology -- including some of Lee’s

Feb. 17, 2025

Ye So-yeon wins top prize at revamped Yi Sang Literary Award

Ye's 'The Dog and the Revolution' captures generational, ideological journey of love and reconciliation Writer Ye So-yeon has won the grand prize at the 48th Yi Sang Literary Award for her short story, "The Dog and the Revolution." Established in 1977 to honor the literary legacy of writer-poet Yi Sang (1910-1937), the Yi Sang Literary Award is widely regarded as Korea’s most prestigious prize for short and mid-length fiction. "The Dog and the Revolution" follows Tae-soo, a father who took part

Feb. 17, 2025

Philippine literature finds new readers in Korea, thanks to Hansae Yes24 Foundation

Three books mark fourth installment by the foundation dedicated to introducing Southeast Asian cultures through literature The literary world of the Philippines has had little exposure in Korea but one corporate foundation is changing that by offering a glimpse into the country's literature. On Friday, the Hansae Yes24 Foundation unveiled three books featuring works by two Filipino authors, Nick Joaquin and Mica De Leon. Philippine Ambassador to Korea Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega, introducing Joa

Feb. 14, 2025

Korean book of essays secures six-figure deals with Penguin Random House, HarperCollins

Book about two women living together set for English release in October The Korean essay "Two Women Living Together" by Kim Ha-na and Hwang Sun-woo has secured significant deals with major overseas publishers, Penguin Random House in the UK and HarperCollins in the US, according to book publisher Storyseller on Tuesday. Both Penguin Random House’s imprint Doubleday and HarperCollins’ imprint Ecco have signed preemptive contracts with six-figure advances. The collection of mini-essays about two f

Feb. 12, 2025